Dog walkers: scoop that poop

Year 2 pupils from St Paul's School with one of the anti-dog poo posters they have made

Angry pupils at a Tilehurst primary are putting their foot down – unfortunately it’s in dog poo and they are not happy about it.

Class Two at St Paul’s Catholic Primary in City Road have launched a scathing attack on dog walkers who let their pooches do their business right in front of the school gates.

The six- and seven-year-olds have made posters which have been put up on the school fence warning irresponsible dog owners they are “being watched” and doggy doo-doo is a don’t-don’t.

The Evening Post received a number of letters, some illustrated, from pupils enlisting our help in the ‘cack’down after pet owners persistently failed to clean up their mess from the grass verge in front of the school.

Members of St Paul’s School Walking Bus, a scheme which encourages parents not to park outside the school by enlisting volunteers to walk children to the gates, often found they trod in the dog muck on their way into class.

But for Class Two the most sickening consequence of dog mess lying around is the risk of contracting an infection called toxocariasis, which can cause swelling of the body’s organs and in some cases blindness.

Seven-year-old Joshua Baker pleaded in his letter to the Evening Post: “Outside St Paul’s School we have dog owners that let their dog poo all over the pavement.

“This is disgusting and not acceptable. We hope you can do something about it.”

A joint letter from the class said: “It is disgraceful. We know that it can cause serious disease and we don’t want to walk on it and get it on our shoes.

“Tell people that they can be fined if they do it, but the worst thing is that it is disgusting.”

Joanna Dennehy, seven, said: “I think that people shouldn’t do it because if there was a stone in front of the poo, people might fall on it if they trip over.”

One letter said: “Class Two are making angry faces because dog poo is on their street.”

Another one said: “Class Two are very cross because people that have dogs are letting them poo outside St Paul’s and it makes Class Two very sad. Pick poo up after your dog poos.”

Teacher Bernie Canning said: “This was all the children’s idea. Lots of parents have been complaining about the mess outside. They have to walk along there in the mornings with the children.

“They put the posters up on Monday and since then we’ve had a really positive response from the parents.

“One of our support assistants was so busy reading the posters that she trod in some dog poo.”

Mum Sally Hinsley, whose children are in Year Six and Year Three at the school, was one of the parents who had complained to the school, and West Berkshire Council, about the mess.